Explore India's political responses to World War II, including the Congress stance, the Cripps Mission, and key political events leading to independence.

Initial Stand of Congress on World War II and India's Role

• Congress Stand on World War II:
  • Congress would cooperate in the war effort if:
    • Freedom was granted after the war.
    • A genuinely responsible government was immediately set up.

Key Events Leading to India’s Position on World War II

• September 1, 1939: World War II broke out; Britain declared India’s support for the war.
• September 10-14, 1939: CWC meeting at Wardha:
  • Gandhi was for unconditional support to Britain’s war efforts.
  • Subhash Bose and Leftists favored leveraging Britain’s difficulties to start a mass movement against colonialism.
  • Nehru recognized the imperialist nature of the war but was against exploiting Britain’s difficulties and opposed Indian participation in the war.
  • The CWC resolved: No Indian participation unless freedom is granted; Government should declare its war aims soon.
• October 17, 1939: Linlithgow’s Statement:
  • Britain’s war aim was to resist aggression.
  • All interest groups would be consulted to modify the 1935 Act for the future.
  • A “consultative committee” was to be formed for advising functions.

Congress Response and Actions During World War II

• Congress Response:
  • No Indian support to the war.
  • Congress ministries in provinces to resign.
  • No immediate mass struggle to be launched.
• March 1940: ‘Pakistan Resolution’ passed at Lahore session of Muslim League.
• August 1940: August Offer proposed dominion status as a long-term objective and a constituent assembly to be formed after the war. Congress rejected the offer.
• October 1940: Congress launched individual satyagraha; 25,000 satyagrahis court-arrested.
• March 1942: Japan reached Rangoon after overrunning most of South-East Asia.

Cripps Mission: A Turning Point in India’s Political Landscape

• March 1942: Cripps Mission offered:
  • An Indian Union with dominion status and the right to withdraw from the Commonwealth.
  • A constituent assembly elected by provincial assemblies to frame the constitution after the war.
  • Freedom for any province unwilling to join the Union to have a separate agreement with Britain.
  • Defence of India to remain in British hands.
• Congress Objections:
  • Dominion status instead of full independence.
  • Right of provinces to secede.
  • No immediate transfer of power.
  • Retention of governor-general’s supremacy.
• Muslim League Objections:
  • Pakistan was not explicitly offered.
  • The machinery for creating the Constituent Assembly was unsatisfactory.